News Updates - September 12, 2012
BCD moving towards Statewide Alternate
Method for using 2012 I-codes
With the Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC)
adoption process delayed until April 2014, the Building Codes
Division is formulating a Statewide Alternate Method that will
allow the use of the 2012 International Building, Mechanical,
and Energy codes before formal adoption. This will give the design
and construction communities the ability to take advantage of
the provisions in the international codes for their building projects
without delay. Building officials will need to approve the use
of any material, design, or method of construction addressed in
the statewide alternate method. The decision to use a statewide
alternate method is at the discretion of the designer.
Using the alternate method will require a separate compliance
path from the 2010 OSSC in that designs must comply with the 2012
International Building Code in its entirety. Limited cross-over
applications will be allowed where approved by the building official.
Designs must also comply with the 2012 International Mechanical
Code and the new construction provisions of the 2012 International
Fire Code. Designs may comply with either the 2010 Oregon Energy
Efficiency Specialty Code or the 2012 International Energy Efficiency
Code.
When approved, the alternate methods for these respective codes
will be available on the Commercial
Structures program page of our website.
For more information, contact Richard
Rogers at 503-378-4472 or Steve
Judson at 503-378-4635.
BCD reviewing scope of specialized electrical
inspector exam and required inspections
After receiving input from a number of jurisdictions, BCD is
reviewing the scope of the Specialized Electrical Exam as well
as exploring alternatives to the number of inspections associated
with this certification. One option under consideration is an
on-site field assessment in lieu of a portion of the inspections.
BCD has hired John Powell, former BCD electrical chief, in a limited
duration position to help with this process. John
Powell can be reached at 503-378-2741.
BCD classes available during Chemeketa
Community College's fall quarter
Because of popular demand, the 2010 Oregon Energy Efficiency
Specialty Code course (OEESC) will be available during Chemeketa
Community College's fall quarter. This is the last chance to take
this course - it will close for good on Dec. 8, 2012. Individuals
holding the Commercial Building Inspector or Building Plans Examiners
certifications are required to take a code-change course covering
the 2010 OEESC at some point during the code cycle. If you still
need to take this course, register on or before Nov. 21 and complete
it by Dec. 8.
The 2010 Oregon Structural Specialty Code Chapter 11 Accessibility
update will also be available during Chemeketa's fall quarter.
You can find out about registration for both courses on our website.
For more information, contact Sherri
West at 503-373-7509.
Electrical license renewals and continuing education changes
Changes to the continuing education requirements for electrical,
plumbing, and boiler licensees are scheduled to take effect Oct.
1, 2012. These rules will streamline the approval process for
code-development bodies and national organizations to offer continuing
education courses in Oregon. They will also alter the time when
continuing education providers can submit code-change course applications
following the publication of a new model code. Lastly, the rule
amendments allow code-change courses to cover the applicable national
model code without requiring Oregon amendments and other Oregon-specific
materials. The material specific to Oregon will be covered in
a new category of courses called Oregon Rule and Law. This means
that licensees will have a larger number of courses available
and will be able to take courses on the latest model codes for
code-change credit much earlier.
Also on Oct. 1, journeyman and limited residential electricians
will be renewing their licenses. After they renew their licenses,
they will be subject to the new continuing education rules. This
means that between Oct. 1, 2012 and Oct. 1, 2015, they will have
to take a four-hour Oregon Rule and Law course. That course will
be credited toward the code-change requirement listed in the rules
for those licenses. As plumbing, boiler, and other electrical
license holders renew their licenses over the next three years,
they will become subject to the new rules. No group of license
holders will become subject to the changes until they have renewed
their license; consequently, no licensee will be subject to their
continuing education requirements changing during their current
license cycle.
BCD creates field services section
In an effort to respond to businesses and local government's
increasing need for support and expertise around the state, BCD
recently created a new field services section. Shane Sumption
is managing this new section and overseeing our two field offices
in Pendleton and Coquille as well as the plan examiners and site-built
inspectors. We anticipate increased reliance in the need for state
building services as rural counties continue to struggle with
the likely elimination of timber payments.
Vernonia invests in future with new, green school
Vernonia,
the Oregon timber town that made national news in 2007 when winter
storms caused devastating flooding, celebrated
the opening of its new cool, green school earlier this month.
Built above the flood plains of the Nehalem River and Rock Creek,
the new 135,000-square-foot sustainably constructed school building
is poised to become the first K-12 school building in the country
to earn. Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certification.
The school building, designed by Boora
Architects, replaces modular classrooms that were brought
in after flood damage made the elementary, middle, and high schools
unsafe and largely unusable. Rather than rebuild separate schools,
the new school consists of one main building, with wings branching
off for various grade levels. In addition, about 40 percent of
the square footage will be for community use.
The business manager for the Vernonia school district estimates
that operating costs for the new school may be 50 percent less
than for the old school buildings. The well-insulated building
envelope and high-performing windows provide daylighting to classrooms,
and solar panels on the roof will help reduce utility bills. The
building also has a radiant floor heating system that is linked
to a biomass boiler that burns wood pellets from regional sawmills.
While the school design pays homage to Vernonia's past as a timber
town, the new school is an investment in the town's children and
their future. Beyond the energy efficiency and sustainable construction
features of the actual building, the school's focus on creating
a curriculum relevant to rural students is gaining attention as
a model for other rural schools around the country.
Find more detailed information on Vernonia's
new school or read more about Oregon
Cool Schools Program.
BCD welcomes new employees
John Powell was recently hired in a limited
duration position as a training and project analyst.
He has 36 years in the electrical industry as a journeymen,
foreman, project manager, inspector, and consultant,
and was the chief electrical inspector at BCD from 2000
to 2006. He has also served on the Oregon Electrical
Specialty Code and Oregon Solar Installation Specialty
Code committees. For the past six years, he's been in
the business of continuing education, renewable consulting,
and providing inspections. John can be reached at 503-378-2741
or john.w.powell@state.or.us.
Floyd Gregg will be serving as the assistant
electrical chief. He brings with him 23 years of experience
in the electrical trade in Oregon. He has 10 years of
experience with electrical inspections, and most recently
he was an electrical inspector with the City of Beaverton.
Floyd can be reached at 503-378-5838 or floyd.f.gregg@state.or.us.
Greg Moyer was hired as the new boiler inspector.
His 27-year work history with boilers and pressure vessels
started in 1985 when he was in the U.S. Navy and worked
maintenance on boilers. He worked for 16 years at Claremont
College as the assistant foreman of the plumbing and
boiler shop before working for Willamette University
as the maintenance manager, and then his most recent
job as the facility manager at Sequential Biodiesel.
Moyer was also a member of the Board of Boiler Rules
for two years before joining the staff at BCD. Greg
can be reached at 503-378-5975 or greg.a.moyer@state.or.us.
Kevin Perdue will be the new chief boiler inspector
as of Sept. 26. He will be moving to Salem from Medford
where he was a boiler inspector for BCD since 2006.
Before working for BCD, he worked for M.E. Industries
for 10 years. Kevin can be contacted at 503-373-7499
or mark.k.perdue@state.or.us.
Enforcement
Summary of enforcement cases presented
to the State Plumbing Board
Summary report:
These cases were resolved by the division's enforcement section
without going to a contested case hearing. No action was required
by the State Plumbing Board.
Plumbing
License Suspensions, Revocations, and Reinstatements
Summary of enforcement cases presented
to the Board of Boiler Rules
Summary report:
These cases were resolved by the division's enforcement section
without going to a contested case hearing. No action was required
by the Board of Boiler Rules.
Board
of Boiler Rules License Suspensions and Revocations
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